Wayne County, Ohio
Court of Common Pleas
Juvenile Division
ANNUAL REPORT
2013
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To:
The Honorable Ann M. Obrecht
The Honorable Scott S. Wiggam
The Honorable Jim Carmichael
Commissioners of Wayne County, Ohio
Judge Latecia Wiles
June 1, 2014
Ohio Revised Code §2151.18 requires Juvenile Courts in Ohio to annually report to
their Board of County Commissioners and the communities they serve - showing the number of
cases, kinds of cases, and disposition of cases coming before the Court for the preceding year,
plus any other pertinent information on the work of the Court.
We are pleased to present to you the Court’s Annual Report for 2013. If you are accessing this report on-line, please use the links provided throughout the report for additional information from our website and from other related sources.
The Court is always seeking to improve its service through innovative and efficient
means of providing service to the community. I extend the Court’s, and its staff’s, continuing
gratitude to the many friends in the community for their support, collaboration and encouragement.
We hope you find this report informative and we welcome any questions or comments.
Respectfully Submitted,
Latecia Wiles
Latecia Wiles, Judge
www.wayneprobateandjuvenile.org
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS
Ohio Courts are subject to the Rules of Superintendence of the Ohio Supreme
Court. The Rules of Superintendence include rules governing the operations, funding,
standards for courthouse facilities, and a requirement that all Ohio courts file monthly
reports with the Supreme Court in order to verify that the Court is hearing and resolving cases in a timely fashion.
Each month, Ohio Juvenile Courts file reports to inform the Supreme Court
on the number of new cases filed or transferred into the Court, along with cases heard
and terminated in the month of the report. The detail of the reports also includes information on whether the cases were heard by the judge or magistrates. The Supreme
Court provides guidelines recommending the maximum recommended time a case
may be before the Court from filing to termination.
The following table is a recapitulation of all of the cases filed, transferred into
the Court, and terminated by the Court in the calendar year 2013. Each case type is
tracked on the report and every case is accounted for each year.
NEW CASES FILED
Total
All Others
U.I.F.S.A.
Parentage
Support
Custody/Visitation
Motion for
Permanent
Custody
Adult Cases
Unruly
Dependency,
Neglect or Abuse
Traffic
Delinqency
CASES FILED AND TERMINATED 2013
373
490
160
110
30
61
128
224
11
0
14 1601
8
7
4
2
5
0
62
677
7
0
16
381
497
164
112
35
61
190
901
18
0
30 2389
Trial by Judge
0
0
12
0
0
27
3
0
0
0
0
42
Trial by Magistrate
0
2
9
0
0
0
115
10
0
0
2
138
49
8
24
21
18
4
38
15
4
0
2
183
1
0
98
0
1
17
8
736
2
0
4
867
Cases transferred in,
reactivated or redesignated
Total
788
TERMINATIONS BY:
Dismissal
Admit to Judge
Admit to Magistrate
292
358
43
81
25
1
38
153
21
0
Certification/waiver granted
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Unavailable Party
1
0
0
1
5
0
2
35
3
0
7
54
Transfer
29 1041
91
105
0
16
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
214
Referral to private judge
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
All Other
1
0
12
0
0
23
20
11
1
0
12
80
435
473
198
119
49
72
225
960
32
0
56 2619
Total
3
Statistical inconsistencies are adjusted.
WAYNE COUNTY JUVENILE COURT
TYPES OF CASES HEARD IN JUVENILE COURT
DELINQUENT CHILD: When a person under the age of eighteen commits an act
which, if committed by adult, would be a crime, the juvenile is determined to be
“delinquent;” that is, late in developing proper judgment to follow the requirements of
law. In 2013, the Court addressed 381 Delinquency cases. Click here to read more
about Delinquency on the Juvenile Court’s website.
TRAFFIC: When a juvenile violates a traffic law, the juvenile is referred to as a Juvenile Traffic Offender. Juveniles are subject to different penalties, referred to as
“consequences,” compared to adult traffic offenders. In 2013, the Court addressed 497
juvenile traffic cases. Click here to read more about Traffic on the Juvenile Court’s
website.
ABUSED, NEGLECTED, OR DEPENDENT: The Court may determine that a child
is abused, neglected, or dependent under the definitions of the law. The Court may remove the child from an inappropriate or dangerous environment in order to place the
child in foster case, with relatives, or with their families under supervision. In 2013, the
Court addressed 164 abuse, neglect, and dependency cases. Click here to read more
about abuse, neglect, and dependency on the Juvenile Court’s website.
PARENTAGE: A parentage action may be commenced by a child, a person claiming to
be the parent of a child, such person’s representatives, or the Child Support Enforcement
Agency (CSEA). Determination is usually made by the use of DNA testing of the parents of the child. Once parentage has been established, the issues of parental rights and
support may be addressed. In 2013, the Court addressed 18 parentage matters. Click
here to read more about Parentage, Support, Custody, or Visitation on the Juvenile
Court’s website.
UNRULY: A child who does not submit to the reasonable control of the child’s parents, teachers, or guardian may be adjudicated an unruly child. A child who is truant
from school, or behaves in a manner as to injure or endanger his or her health or morals,
or the health or morals of others, also may be adjudicated an unruly child. The Court has
broad discretion to fashion a remedy to resolve the unruly behavior. In 2013, there
were 112 unruly cases filed.
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ADULT: Adult cases are prosecutions against persons over the age of eighteen years,
accused of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. In 2013, the Court addressed
35 adult cases.
MOTION FOR PERMANENT CUSTODY: Motions for permanent custody are
filed in situations where the child’s environment is so inappropriate, and the parents’
ability to care for the child is so inadequate, that it warrants permanently terminating
the rights of parents in the parent-child relationship. In 2013, the Court addressed 61
motions for permanent custody. Such motions may be filed as a part of an abuse,
neglect or dependency case. Click here for more information about Abuse, Neglect,
and Dependency.
CUSTODY/VISITATION: Issues of custody and visitation between parents of children of parents who were married to each other then divorced are heard by the domestic relations division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over issues of child custody and visitation (parenting time) for children whose
parents were never married to each other. In 2013, the Court addressed 190 custody
and visitation matters. Click here for more information about Custody/Visitation.
SUPPORT: The Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over issues of child support for children who parents were never married to each other. In 2013, the Court addressed
901 support cases filed. Issues of child support between parents of children who were
married to each other then divorced are heard by the domestic relations division of the
Court of Common Pleas. Click here for more information about Support.
U.I.F.S.A.: The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act is embodied in Ohio law in
§3115.01 et seq., and provides a procedure whereby court orders of support in different states may be enforced in Ohio, if one of the parties is an Ohio resident. In 2013,
there were no UIFSA cases filed.
ALL OTHERS: Cases which do not fall into the categories listed here are recorded
in the Supreme Court Report. These cases include Grandparent Powers of Attorney/
Caretaker Affidavits, Judicial Bypass, Marriage Consents, Civil Protection Orders,
Reclassification Petitions, and other miscellaneous matters that do not fall into other
categories. The Court addressed 30 miscellaneous cases in 2013.
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Case Termination Explanation 1
As a part of the Court’s accounting for all cases filed or transferred
into the Court, the Supreme Court requires each juvenile court to report the
manner in which the cases were terminated. The following is an explanation of the terminology used in the report.
Trial by Judge: This line reports the cases in each category that were terminated as a result of an adjudicatory and dispositional hearing by the
judge.
Trial by Magistrate: This line reports the cases in each category that were
terminated as a result of an adjudicatory and dispositional hearing by a
magistrate.
Admit to Judge: This line reports uncontested cases that are terminated
by admission or agreement before the judge.
Admit to Magistrate: This line reports uncontested cases that are terminated by admission or agreement before a magistrate.
Certification/Waiver Granted: This line is used exclusively on the delinquency column to report cases transferred in accordance with §2152.03
and §2152.12 O.R.C.
Transfer: Cases transferred from the reporting judge to the judge in another juvenile court pursuant to Juvenile Rule 11 are reported on this line.
All Other: Any case terminated in any manner not specifically required to
be reported on the lines described above.
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Ohio Supreme Court Report Implementation Manual—Form D Juvenile Courts
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Roles in the Juvenile Court
Judge
The Judge of the Wayne County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is
elected to a six-year term, and is the chief judicial officer of the Court. The judge of the
Juvenile Court is also the Clerk of the Court. In order to qualify to seek the office of
judge, a person must have received a law degree from an accredited college of law, must
have taken and passed the Ohio bar examination, and must have been admitted to the bar
and been engaged in some form of law practice for at least six years. Judge Wiles is also
the Judge and Clerk of the Probate Division.
Magistrates
Magistrates hear cases and conduct hearings in the same manner as the judge,
however, their decisions are subject to objection by one or both of the parties to the legal
action being decided. Upon written objection, the judge may decide to re-hear the case,
may modify the magistrate’s decision or may remand (send back) the case to the magistrate for further hearing. Magistrates must also be attorneys admitted to the bar. Magistrates are appointed by the elected judge and serve an indefinite term. The Juvenile
Court employs one full time and two part time magistrates.
Court Administrator
The Court Administrator is the person charged with responsibility for the overall
operations of the Court. The CA supervises staff, manages the processes of the Court
and Clerk offices, and implements policies and procedures in concert with the judge to
provide for the efficient operation of the Court. It is not necessary for a court administrator to be an attorney, but the Court’s administrator is an attorney as well.
Deputy Clerks
Since the judge of the Court is also the Clerk of the Court, the judge is authorized
to appoint deputy clerks to assist in the administration of the Court. Deputy clerks receive pleadings and other documents filed with the Court, receive and distribute payment of fines, court costs and fees, issue notices and generally maintain the records of
the Court by processing the paperwork of the Court from case filing to termination.
Probation Officers
Probation officers manage juveniles who have been adjudicated delinquent and
unruly to assist in the rehabilitation of the youth. More about probation can be found on
pages 12—23 of this Report.
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AUTOMATION
In early 2012, Judge Wiles, along with the Judges of the Courts of
Common Pleas and Municipal Court, signed an agreement with Pioneer
Technology Group for a completely new case management system, that would encompass e-filing, paperless processes, and provide a faster, more powerful management system for court records, with an
anticipated roll-out in early 2014.
Public Records Access
Although most of the Juvenile Court records
are non-public, the Court provides access to the few
records that are public through the Internet. Records may be accessed through the Wayne County Clerk of Courts web site
at http://courtsweb.waynecourts.org/publicaccess/Home.aspx/Search
E-Filing
The Court is working in conjunction with the
Clerk of Common Pleas Court and Wayne County Municipal Court on an electronic filing procedure which will
allow litigants and attorneys to file documents on-line. This procedure will
begin rolling out in February 2014.
Document Imaging
Wayne County elected officials, including the courts, are working on
a plan for imaging documents on computer rather than relying on paper
pleadings and records.
Credit Card Acceptance
The Juvenile Court is planning on introducing the use of credit cards
for the payment of fines, costs and fees. Credit card acceptance is also a
condition precedent to making e-filing available.
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APPOINTED COUNSEL
The U.S. and Ohio Constitutions require that parties to a criminal or
quasi-criminal case understand their legal rights. In cases where
there is a need for legal representation, and the parties are financially unable to pay for private counsel, attorneys must be appointed at
public expense. The right to counsel arises when there is a potential
for loss of liberty or when a fundamental substantive legal right is at issue, such as
termination of parental rights. The Court paid a total of $294,054.22 for appointed
counsel in 2013.
The Court paid $90,103.04 of the $294,054.22 for attorneys appointed to
serve as guardians ad litem for children involved in abuse, neglect, and dependency cases. Guardians ad litem are unbiased persons who assist the Court to investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, and dependency, and make recommendations
regarding the best interests of the children in court cases.
OUT OF HOME PLACEMENTS
The Court’s practice is to make use of local resources to rehabilitate youth.
In some cases, however, community-based programs are not a viable option because of community safety issues, because the child’s behavior presents a danger
to his/her health and well being, or because the child has not been amenable to
other efforts to effect change. In instances where it is necessary to place juveniles
in private treatment facilities, group homes, therapeutic foster homes or MultiCounty Juvenile Attention System (MCJAS) facilities, the Court system refers to
this generally as “Out of Home Placement.”
Juveniles found delinquent because they have committed a misdemeanor or
felony may be placed in detention locally. Those juveniles who have been delinquent because they have committed an act which, if committed by an adult, would
be a felony, may be committed to the Ohio Department of Youth Services or a
Community Corrections Facility.
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OUT OF HOME PLACEMENTS
(Continued)
In the year 2013, no youth were committed to the Ohio
Department of Youth Services (ODYS). At disposition, placements may be made into the MCJAS. Seven such placements
were made in 2013:
MULTI-COUNTY FACILITIES
TOTAL YOUTH PLACED
Community Corrections Facility
1
Residential Treatment Center
3
New Philadelphia Group Home
1
Rogers Group Home
1
Canton Group Home/711
1
Where appropriate, a juvenile may be placed in a facility other than detention or ODYS. As a part of disposition, the Court determines which facility will
be the most appropriate to reform the juvenile’s behavior. The following is a summary of the nineteen youth in such placement facilities in 2013:
FACILITY
TOTAL YOUTH PLACED
Village Network
5
Central Ohio Youth Center
3
Abraxas
2
Foundations for Living
1
New Directions
1
Knox County Children’s Resource Center
1
Children Center of Ohio
2
Safely Home
2
Smith House
2
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GRANTS
The Court receives several grants that assist the Court in covering the cost
of services to youth.
The Ohio Department of Youth Services (ODYS), which is itself funded by
the taxpayers of the State of Ohio, apportions a grant called
“RECLAIM Ohio,” which stands for Reasoned and Equitable
Community and Local Alternatives to the Incarceration of
Minors. The purpose of the grant is to reduce the number of
youth committed to ODYS by providing funding for programs that are designed to stop delinquent behavior in juveniles who are at risk for more serious offenses. The Court also receives grants, called the “510” Fund, from Youth Services Grant, and a grant to provide for Victims of Crime Assistance (VOCA/SVAA). The RECLAIM Ohio and the
“510” Fund from Youth Services grants are both on a fiscal
year running from July 1 through June 30, and the VOCA/SVAA grant is on a fiscal year running from October 1 through September 30.
The following is a summary of the amounts awarded in the 2013 calendar
year from these grants.
Grant
Amount Awarded
RECLAIM Ohio (7/1/13 to 6/30/14)
$170,772.61
“510” Fund From the Youth Services Grant
$167,203.00
VOCA/SVAA Grant
VOCA: $17,597.00
SVAA: $1,786.00
County Match: $5,866.00
BHJJ (MST)
$105,157.50
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PROBATION SERVICES
Probation is the Court-based supervision of juveniles who have been adjudicated
unruly or delinquent children. Not all juveniles appearing before the Court are assigned
to probation supervision. In some of these cases, the probation department may have
been ordered to gather additional information for the hearing officer, and compile it in a
pre-disposition report with recommendations to substantiate the findings.
Youth may be assigned regular probation or TEMP probation. TEMP Probation
is a specialized probation caseload created to deal with chronic truants. For those juveniles placed on regular or TEMP probation, the probation officer is responsible for monitoring the activities of assigned probationers, and ensuring compliance with Court orders. Five full-time probation officers were employed by the Court in 2013 and are assigned cases based on the home school district of the juvenile. This allows for efficiency
in the department, since probation officers consult with school personnel, conduct in
home visits and confer with local law enforcement. Probation officers have arrest authority over any juvenile assigned to the department, and are responsible for filing the necessary legal documents
when doing so. The probation officers administer drug tests and assessment instruments, as well as obtain psychological and risk assessments from outside resources to supplement their information.
The Court’s probation department is certified by ODYS to complete
assessments for juvenile sex offenders. Additionally, probation officers refer the juvenile and his/her family to local agencies for services to address the areas of need.
In cases where the juvenile fails to respond to probationary efforts, or presents a
safety risk to the community or him/herself, an out of home placement may be ordered
by the Court. Probation officers are responsible to seek an appropriate residential placement and monitor the juvenile’s progress while in placement, as well as assist in aftercare when the juvenile is returned to the community. The probation officers fulfill other
duties as ordered by the Court, such as conducting community safety evaluations, collecting DNA specimens, and monitoring electronic house arrest.
In 2013, the probation department supervised a total of 160 youth on probation (65 at the beginning of the year and 95 throughout the year). The probation department completed 37 pre-dispositional reports with another seven reports remaining
open at the end of the year. Seventy-three youth (23 at the beginning of the year and 50
throughout the year) were assigned to TEMP Probation. Thirty-six youth were released
from standard probation and 18 were released from TEMP probation. Thirty youth remained on standard probation and 26 on TEMP probation at the end of the year. Including all services performed by the probation department, the probation officers
worked with a total of 233 youth this past year.
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JUVENILES ADDRESSING RESTITUTION-JAR PROGRAM
The judicial system seeks to hold juveniles accountable for their actions as
well as requiring them to make restitution for damages experienced by the victim.
In cases involving violations against property, the Court strives to aid the victim
in receiving compensation for damages or loss of property, caused by the delinquent acts of juveniles. In order to do this, the Court may require the payment of
restitution to the victim. The ability to collect monetary compensation for the victim can be hindered by various factors, such as the limited sources of revenue for
the juvenile, the age or functioning level of the juvenile prohibiting employability,
the availability of jobs, lack of transportation in order to obtain a job, and/or parental inability to pay.
JAR is a program operated by the Court that provides a means for juveniles
to pay Court-ordered restitution. Referral to the program is made from the bench
by the Judge or Magistrate. The program allows juveniles to perform community
service work that is converted to minimum wage per hour worked. The Court’s
Compliance Officer monitors and tracks the community services hours performed
by the juvenile. The Compliance Officer arranges community service work sites
or in cases where the juvenile has access to a volunteer work source, they may
make their own arrangements at an approved work site. Work hours are documented and the Compliance Officer submits proof of completed hours to the
Court for processing of payment. Restitution payment is made by the Court directly to the victim using money secured through the Youth Services/RECLAIM
grant.
Should a juvenile be appropriate for the JAR program and was not referred
from the bench, the Compliance Officer may file a request with the hearing officer
for the referral. A juvenile may be dismissed from the JAR program for failure to
comply with the conditions of the program.
The purpose of the JAR program is to aid the victim of certain crimes committed by the delinquent acts of juveniles in receiving restitution for their losses
as determined by the Court. While the primary goal is to repay the victims, the
program does provide for the offender to be held directly accountable for his/her
actions by giving of their time and effort.
In 2013, seven youth were admitted to the JAR program and $2,178.58 was paid to victims for losses.
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WORK PROGRAM
The Work Program started in July 2012 as a replacement
for the Saturday at Work Program. The Saturday at Work Program contract with The Village Network was terminated in
June 2012 due to a loss of funding from the state RECLAIM
grant. The Work Program is designed to provide an immediate
response to youth who violate their probation or fail to complete their community service. The program also allows youth
with difficult schedules or circumstances and who need direct supervision, an avenue to complete community service hours.
The program allows five juveniles per program day to complete community
service hours under the direct supervision of two probation staff. The program is
scheduled for one day each month, eight hours per day. Work sites vary according
to the availability in the community and weather conditions. The program is funded through the RECLAIM Ohio Grant and operates on a fiscal year from July 1
through June 30.
In FY 2013, there were 78 referrals made to the program. Of the 78 referrals, 68 were successful, four were excused due to illness, and six were unexcused.
CHEMICAL ABUSE & BEHAVIOR PROGRAM
The Chemical Abuse and Behavior (CAB) group is a program initiated by
the probation department in 2011. The group focuses on substance abuse and behavior issues and uses various curriculums addressing thinking errors, relationship
building, problem solving skills, etc. The group is run by a certified substance
abuse counselor from Catholic Charities. The Court contracts with Catholic Charities to provide this service, which is paid out of the RECLAIM Ohio grant. A
youth may be assigned to this group as a result of a positive drug screen, as a
sanction for possession or usage of illegal substances/paraphernalia, or as part of
an aftercare plan following a more intensive treatment program. The group meets
Thursdays after school and is interactive by design. In 2013, 24 youth were referred to the program; nine girls and 15 boys.
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TRUANCY ENFORCEMENT MONITORING PROGRAM (TEMP)
The judicial system seeks to keep youth in school and receiving an education . A probation officer of the Court serves as a monitor for TEMP, a program
that monitors youth who have been adjudicated as truant and
must become compliant with a Court order of attendance. The
monitor investigates the causes for youth who continue to be
truant after the initial adjudication. The monitor enforces the
initial adjudication, leading to further sanctions from the Court
on non-compliance issues with the initial Court order.
In 2013, 95 youth were monitored for Court Ordered
attendance. Forty-two youth were terminated from the list
and 53 youth are still being actively monitored. There have been 65 warnings
and 21 additional motions filed with the Court for further sanctions including time served at the Linda Martin Attention Center and community service
hours.
CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATIONS
The Court obtains psychological evaluations and risk assessments for a variety of reasons with the findings and recommendations of these evaluations used for case planning, dispositional options, amenability, sex
offender classification purposes, or for cases where out of home
placements are being considered. The Court contracts with outside
sources to obtain these evaluations. In 2013, nine psychological and
risk assessments were performed. The evaluations and assessments are funded by the RECLAIM Ohio grant.
Drug screens are administered by the Court’s probation officers as an aid in
monitoring youth’s compliance with probation or for evaluation purposes. The
drug screens are paid for by the youth and from the Probation Services Fund.
15
COMMUNITY CONTROL COMPLIANCE
All youth who are adjudicated delinquent or unruly in the Court may not
come to probation for monitoring. Many youth are placed under Community
Control and given a variety of sanctions. Those sanctions can include community
service, the requirement to obtain a high school diploma or a certificate of high
school equivalence, the requirement to obtain an alcohol/drug assessment and/or
alcohol/drug counseling, attendance in anger management counseling, to serve
monitored time, to have electronic monitoring with house arrest, to pay restitution, write letter of apology, and/or any other remedy the Court deems reasonable.
In 2012, a designated probation officer was assigned to monitor compliance of
those Community Control sanctions by these non-probation youth. This probation
officer also monitors a probation caseload.
Once a youth is ordered on Community Control with sanctions (excluding
probation), a copy of that entry is forwarded to the probation officer in charge of
monitoring. The probation officer will track the due dates of the sanctions and
send letters 30 days in advance to remind the youth of the upcoming due date.
Once all sanctions under Community Control are met, the prosecutor will make a
Motion to the Court requesting Community Control be terminated. If the youth
has not been granted an extension, and the due date passes with no proof of completion submitted, the prosecutor’s office will file a complaint for Violation of a
Court Order or a Motion for Contempt.
In 2013, the Community Control Compliance Program monitored 210
cases, with 148 cases terminating showing all sanctions being completed, and
62 cases remaining open and monitored into 2014. The Community Control
Compliance program has allowed the Court to be more efficient in monitoring its
Orders and holding individuals who violate Community Control accountable.
CARTEENS
The Court requested the assistance of The Ohio State University Extension
Office in seeking Americorp funds to develop a Driver's Education Program for
first time moving violations. The program is now called Carteens. One hundred
sixty-one teen traffic offenders completed Carteens in 2013.
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COMMUNITY SERVICE
Community service is a frequently used dispositional order that requires a
youth to perform work beneficial to the community. The program provides youth
with an opportunity to “repay” the community for the problems caused by the youth’s behavior, as well as provide the
youth with the opportunity to gain work experience. Youth
who participate in the Court’s Diversion program may also be
assigned community services as a condition of that program.
In 2013, 3,148 hours of community service were
ordered in 186 cases, and 2,673 hours were completed in 156 cases.
STUDY TABLE
Study table is an after school program conducted by the
Wayne County Juvenile Probation Department. It offers youth involved with the probation department an avenue to improve their
academic performance by working in a small group setting. Youth
can be assigned to participate in Study Table as a consequence for
violating probation, being absent or tardy to school, getting into
trouble at school, or as a means to catch up on school work/
improve grades. Youth are required to bring their own assignments to complete during Study Table. A probation officer facilitates and monitors the youth in attendance. Study Table is held on Wednesday afternoons from 3:30pm-5:00pm during the school year. In 2013, 23 youth were
referred to Study Table, seven girls and 16 boys.
A.S.M.A. (After School Martial Arts)
A.S.M.A. is a program taught by Robert Kelley, a Juvenile Probation Officer and Martial Arts Master, in which Juvenile Court-involved youth have the
chance to learn and practice Martial Arts. This program allows youth to study
self-defense as they learn to control their anger, fear, and self-doubt. A.S.M.A.
teaches the core values associated with leading a productive and positive lifestyle,
such as establishing a positive self-image, character building, and learning life
skills. These core values help the participants to develop a strong sense of self
and aids them in resisting negative influences and peer pressure.
In 2013, 19 youth participated in the A.S.M.A. program. Participants
have the option to participate in tournaments if they so choose. Youth have
earned several placements at tournaments in which they participated.
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BOOK CLUB
Since the Book Club was established in 2003, the
Court has participated in an alternative community service option and invited appropriate youth to join the Juvenile Court Book Club. Youth are referred to the Book
Club by either the Probation Officers or the Director of
Intervention Services. Participants read three to four
books each session for which the youth receive community service credit. They must show that they have read
the book and participate in weekly “club meetings” to
obtain credit. A library of books for participants was created from funds made
available through a mini grant from the Mental Health and Recovery Board and
the Martha Hawks Bequest.
In 2013, seven youth participated and six were successful in completing
the program.
2013 Book Club Titles and Authors
Title
Author
Touching Spirit Bear
Ben Mikaelson
Gathering Blue
Lois Lowry
Freedom Writer’s Diary
Erin Gruwell
RIP in Heaven
Jeanine Cummins
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LIFE SKILLS
Since 1982, the Court has cooperated with Goodwill Industries to provide a
job skills program that allows youth to develop appropriate work skills and experience. Youth are also able to earn funds to pay fines, costs and restitution. The
Probation Department is responsible for supervising these placements and working with the Goodwill staff to provide a support system for the youth. Goodwill
also provides a life skills class to help those in the program learn about different
careers, interview tips and how to apply for employment. This program is funded
by the RECLAIM Ohio grant.
During Fiscal Year 2013, nine youth were referred to job skills. Five of
those referred were successful, one were not successful, and three remained
working in the program.
FIAT PROGRAM (FITTING IT ALL TOGETHER)
A significant number of youth involved in the Court system lack, or are delayed, in social skills, and have limited exposure to appropriate activities. These
youth may suffer from a lack of structure in their home environment and in their
free time, and have no positive adult role models, or their families may not have
the financial means or ability to access resources. Research shows youth learn social skills and develop positive assets by being directly involved in appropriate
activities. Exposure to recreational, vocational, and educational activities broadens their awareness and increases their knowledge. Furthermore, youth connected
with a mentoring program tend to be less involved in criminal activity.
As a result of this need, the Court developed a program, now referred to as
the FIAT (Fitting It All Together) program, with ANA·ZAO Community Partners.
The partnership allows the Court to refer youth who need structured, positive social activities to the FIAT Program.
Two Youth Development Specialists coordinate and supervise the FIAT
program, which provides educational and social activities for youth. Activities
may be co-ed or specifically for females or males, depending on the participant’s
needs. One activity is Hoops and Homework, which is done in cooperation with
the College of Wooster. The youth receive homework assistance as well as an opportunity to be involved in a physical activity (such as basketball or dodge ball),
both with college students.
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Another activity is the ASMA (After School Martial Arts) program, done in conjunction with a probation officer who is a martial arts instructor. The ASMA program provides a structured forum for development while focusing on selfdiscipline and control. FIAT incorporates other activities to enhance pro-social
skills and educational awareness such as attending sporting events, cooking classes, and pottery classes. Recreational activities such as camping, fishing, biking,
swimming, bowling, playing basketball, etc. promote physical activity and helps
to foster recreational interests. In addition to group activities, FIAT customizes
one-on-one activities to address individual needs of each youth. The program utilizes resources such as libraries, bike trails, parks, recreation centers, and local businesses as much as possible to expose the youth to
what is available to them locally. The Youth Development Specialist
also works with youth to transition them from adolescence to adulthood by linking them with community resources that can provide
ongoing service sand assistance.
In 2013, FIAT provided services to 21 male participants, two successfully completing the program and 19 continuing in the program, and six female participants, with one successfully completing and five continuing.
M.S.T. (Multi Systemic Therapy)
In August of 2013, due to a Behavioral Health and Juvenile Justice grant
that was awarded to the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Wayne and
Holmes County, the Court was able to implement the M.S.T. program in a continued effort to keep youth in the community and out of placement. The M.S.T. program targets juvenile offenders with serious behavioral issues that cause them to
be at a significant risk for out of home placement.
An M.S.T. therapist from the Crisis Intervention & Recovery Center of
Stark County, Inc. is assigned to work with the families of Wayne County and
provides intensive family and community based treatment that addresses the multiple factors that contribute to a juvenile’s delinquent behavior. The M.S.T. therapist works to bring key participants of the juvenile’s life together to form a support system, so that once the Court is out of the family’s life, the family has support to continue on a positive path.
In 2013, a total of three families began the three to five month M.S.T.
program.
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PARENTS AND CHILDREN COOPERATING TOGETHER
PACCT is a home-based family therapy program provided by contract
through Catholic Charities Community Services. To be eligible for services, families must reside in Wayne County, have one or more children in the family who
was referred as a condition of a diversion contract, or who has been adjudicated
delinquent or unruly. The program is funded by the agency,
United Way and the Court. Youth at high risk for out-of-home
placement are referred to this program along with youth who
may avoid any Court involvement by being successful with the
program. The program is flexible and works with the family
to address whatever issues are creating problems for the youth
and their family. Services may be short term and intensive or continue for a longer period of time depending on the specific needs of the youth. During FY 2013,
22 youth participated in the PACCT program, with 11 successful completions, two unsuccessful, eight open into 2014, and one youth moving out of
the area and unable to finish.
A major focus of the program is to provide home-based counseling to referred youth and their families. This approach allows the therapist to
address family issues that may impact the functioning of the referred
youth as well as assist siblings to avoid future problems. Youth and
families, at the time of the referral, also do not necessarily see the
value of family counseling and one of the elements of the program is
to find ways to interest families in engaging in the therapy process.
As a result of PACCT, Catholic Charities Community Services has developed anger management groups to aid youth in better controlling their feelings of
anger and aggressive behavior.
VOLUNTEER GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM
Karin Connolly Wiest became the coordinator of this program in October
1998. Her position is funded through a one year VOCA/CASA grant with the
County providing matching funds.
The program had fourteen volunteers handling cases in 2013, with 71
children being served. Attorneys are appointed as GALs when volunteers are
not available.
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INTERVENTION SERVICES
The Director of Intervention Services is responsible for implementation of
the Diversion Program. The goal of the Diversion Program is to divert first time
juvenile offenders from the court system. The Director receives referrals from the
Prosecutor’s Office of juveniles who have had police reports filed. First time offenders with misdemeanor offenses and occasional felony offenses may be eligible for Diversion. The youth will comply with the program components, which
may include:
*90 day minimum agreement
*daily attendance at school
*curfew, essays, community service
*no additional charges filed within 90 days
*referral to community resources (counseling,
drug/alcohol education, anger management)
If the youth completes all requirements of the agreement, the youth will be
removed from the program and no further action will occur. If the youth does not
meet the requirements of the Diversion agreement, the youth is then terminated
from Diversion as unsuccessful. The original complaint that brought him/her to
Diversion is returned to the Prosecutor for possible formal action.
In 2013, the Director of Intervention Services received 120 new referrals. Forty-nine referrals were pending from 2012, and forty-one remained
pending at the end of 2013. Of the youths in Diversion in 2013, 82 were successful, 28 were unsuccessful, eight were dismissed, and eight returned.
The Director of Intervention Services also coordinates the Truancy Intervention Program for all schools in the county. The Court
believes that early intervention is essential in addressing
truancy. The goal of the program is to address truancy
issues in a timely manner, reduce chronic truancy problems in all grades, and avoid formal Court action. The
program provides supports and resources to the family
and student in an effort to increase attendance.
To be eligible, a student must attend a Wayne County or charter school, be
in grades K-12, accumulate a minimum three unexcused absences, and have a parent or guardian present at the Truancy Intervention Meeting. Any staff member at
the school may make a referral by calling the Director of Intervention Services. A
meeting is set up with the school staff and the parent is sent a letter indicating the
date and time of the meeting. At the meeting, a plan of action is developed by all
parties who agree and sign. After the meeting if the plan does not work and the
student continues to accumulate unexcused absences, the school may file truancy.
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INTERVENTION SERVICES (continued)
During the 2012-2013 school year, in grades K-6, there were 52 referrals
made to the program and 22 meetings held with a parent/guardian in attendance. These 22 meetings resulted in a plan agreed to by all parties in attendance.
There were 30 meetings in which the parent/guardian did not attend and no plan
of action was created. In grades 7-12, there were 98 referrals made and 47
meetings held with a parent/guardian in attendance and a plan created.
There were 51 meeting in which the parent did not attend and no plan of action
was created.
The following school districts participates in the Truancy Intervention
Program during the 2012-2013 school year: Chippewa, Green Local, Central
Christian, Wooster, Orrville, Dalton, Waynedale, Triway, Rittman, North Central,
and Northwestern. School participation is critical in stopping truancy in the beginning stages, and coordination between schools, agencies, and the Court is essential in solving truancy issues. Thank you to the schools who have and continue
to support the Court in decreasing truancy.
FAMILY AND CHILDREN FIRST COUNCIL
Children who present multiple needs and specialized treatment placements
are referred to the Wayne County Family and Children First Council. Administrative representatives of Wayne County Children Services Board, the Mental
Health and Recovery Board, Wooster City Schools, Wayne County Schools, the
Wayne County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Wayne County Health
Department, the Wayne County Human Services Department, and other agencies
work together to set policy for the Council.
Misty Hanson, as Chief Probation Officer of the Court, serves as the Juvenile Court’s representative on the clinical diversion team which also includes the
Council coordinator and representatives from WCCSB, The Counseling Center,
Wooster City Schools, Tri-County Educational Services, agencies with alcohol
and drug services, and Wayne County Board of DD. Through a team approach
this group formulates interagency cooperative planning (and funding) for referred
youth with special needs.
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COMMUNITY AGENCIES THANK FOR YOUR VALUED ASSISTANCE
As has been noted in prior reports, a belief in community-based programming would fail without the aid of local resources. The help of The Village Network, ANA·ZAO, STEPS (Substance Abuse, Treatment, Education and Prevention Services), the Counseling Center of Wayne-Holmes Counties, Catholic Charity Services, Goodwill, Wayne Center for the Arts, and other community agencies
is greatly appreciated.
ANNUAL REPORT COVER
This year’s cover features an image of the historic
Wayne County Courthouse with the Wooster gazebo in
the foreground. The image was taken by Jane Robbins,
Administrative Secretary to Judge Wiles. The courthouse is located at 107 West Liberty Street in Wooster. It
was designed by architect Thomas Boyd and built in
1879.The courthouse is built of stone and is attached to a brick office building that
was built in 1869. The courthouse was constructed in the French Renaissance
style.
The Wayne County Courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Additional information on more of Ohio’s historic courthouses is available on the web site for the Supreme Court of Ohio.
The United States of America
The State of Ohio
Wayne County, Ohio
Printing Costs
Ohio Revised Code §2151.18 requires that the Court include on each printed copy of the Annual Report
the cost of each printed copy. The 2013 Annual Report was printed using the Court’s color laser printer so no exact
costs are associated with its printing. Only two printed copies are being made in order to satisfy the legal requirement that two copies remain on file with the Court. Distribution of the Annual Report is again being made on-line
in order to minimize costs. Click on Annual Report on the Court’s web site at www.wayneprobateandjuvenile.org.
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